JEREMY Corbyn admitted Labour had lost their way in Scotland yesterday as he pledged to build a “kinder politics” in Britain.

In a crunch keynote speech to the party conference , he promised to learn from the “mistakes of the past” after the party’s drubbing by the SNP in May’s general election.

And he invoked the memory of Scots Labour pioneer Keir Hardie as he told delegates in Brighton: “Let us build a kinder politics, a more caring society together. Let us put our values, the people’s values, back into politics.”

Joking that he is the first bearded man to lead the party since Hardie, Corbyn quoted Labour ’s first leader: “My work has consisted of trying to stir up a divine discontent with wrong.”

The high-profile speech was seen as a key test for Corbyn, who defied odds of 200-1 to be elected Labour leader last month in one of the biggest upsets in British political history.

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

The 66-year-old’s central message to voters was that they don’t have to accept inequality and injustice are inevitable.

He added: “You don’t have to take what you are given.”

Corbyn rejected Tory claims that there is “no alternative” to cuts in jobs, public services and the NHS, rising university fees and growing poverty.

And he slammed David Cameron for claiming he is a “threat” to the security of British families.

He hit back: “How dare these people talk about security for families and people in Britain?

“There’s no security for the 2.8million households in Britain forced into problem debt by stagnating wages and the Tory record of the longest fall in living standards since records began.

“And that’s the nub of it. Tory economic failure. An economy that works for the few, not for the many.”

Jeremy Corbyn makes his way to the stage

The policy-light speech was well received in the hall, despite scepticism from some commentators that the radical left-winger can win over the public at large.

And a snap poll by Sky News brought good news for Corbyn. It found 66 per cent of those surveyed thought he is a good Labour leader, 59 per cent were more likely to vote for him and 53 per cent can imagine him as PM.

In his speech, he conceded that the Scottish Parliament election next year would be a key test for the party.

“I know that people in Scotland have been disappointed by the Labour Party,” he said. “I know you feel we lost our way. I agree with you.”

The leader pledged: “We will make Labour the great fighting force you expect us to be. We need to be investing in skills, investing in our young people and not cutting student numbers. Giving people real hope, real opportunity. Conference, we are the progressive voice for Scotland.”

In other key sections of the hour-long speech, Corbyn:

● Accused the Tories of trying to “gerrymander” elections by redrawing constituency boundaries and changing the rules on electoral registration.

● Called for statutory maternity and paternity pay to be extended to the self-employed.

● Promised to make mental health a priority.

● Repeated his opposition to renewing the Trident nuclear weapons system – signalling he does not intend to give up the fight against pro-nuclear forces in the party.

● Vowed to bring the railways back into public ownership.

● Demanded Government support for steel workers facing job losses on Teesside.

Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn makes his speech during the Labour Party conference (Image: PA)

With more than 160,000 members joining the Labour Party over the summer – 50,000 since his election – Corbyn said he wanted to reinvigorate party activity.

He said under his leadership Labour will “challenge austerity” and be “unapologetic about reforming our economy to challenge inequality and protect workers better”.

The speech won universal praise from the unions, with Unite general secretary Len McCluskey calling Corbyn “inspirational”.

He said: “In setting out a new vision for our country, he gave our tired politics a long-overdue shot in the arm.”

Video Loading

Video Unavailable

Click to playTap to play

The video will start in 8Cancel

Play now

But SNP depute leader Stewart Hosie said Labour would be judged by actions, not words.

He added: “Despite all of the rhetoric in Mr Corbyn’s speech, Labour have already reaffirmed their support for George Osborne’s fiscal plans, and also their support for renewing Trident – which shows they are still running scared of the Tories.

“If Mr Corbyn is serious about winning back the trust of the people of Scotland, he should join with the SNP to devolveemployment rights to the Scottish Parliament so that workers’ rights in Scotland are protected from the Tories.”

In his first weeks as leader, Corbyn has promised a “new politics”, consulting party members on forming policy and attempted to make Prime Minister’s Questions less “theatrical” with a new approach.

But his victory has upset many on the right of Labour, with a number of MPs refusing to serve in his shadow cabinet.